Abstract: A system 100 for real-time processing of a pointer movement provided by a pointing device, the system comprising an output 130 for displaying a pointer 162, 164 at a first position p1 in an image 152, 154, 156, the image comprising a contour; a user input 110 for obtaining pointer movement data 112 from a pointing device 140 operable by a user, the pointer movement data being indicative of a pointer movement v of the pointer from the first position to a second position p2 in the image; and a processor 120 for (i) dampening the pointer movement by reducing the pointer movement along a direction orthogonal 172 to the contour, and (ii) establishing a third position p3 of the pointer based on said dampened pointer movement vd.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image display apparatus for displaying an image like a three-dimensional medical image of an object. A template providing unit (3) provides a template defining display parameters for displaying the image based on anatomical features of the object, and an anatomical feature detecting unit (4) detects an anatomical feature in the image. A display parameter determining unit (5) determines a display parameter defining, for example, a desired view, based on the detected anatomical feature and the template, and a display unit (8) displays the image by displaying, for example, the desired view, in accordance with the determined display parameter. This allows the image display apparatus to show the image on the display in a desired usual way as defined by the template, even if in the originally provided image the object is shown in an unusual way.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a single training image from a set of training images in a data repository. The method further includes generating an initial tissue class atlas based on the obtained single training image. The initial tissue class atlas includes two or more different tissue class images corresponding to two or more different tissue classes. The method further includes registering the remaining training images of the set of training images to the initial tissue class atlas. The method further includes generating a quality metric for each of the registered images. The method further includes evaluating the quality metric of each of the registered image with a predetermined evaluation criterion. The method further includes identifying a sub-set of images from the set of training images that satisfy the evaluation criterion. The method further includes generating a subsequent tissue class atlas based on the identified sub-set of the set of training images.

Abstract: An apparatus and user interface (155) for aiding in navigating and modifying delineations (117a-c) in or associated with 2D sub-volumes (110a-c) of a 3D or higher dimensional image dataset (100). States and position of the sub-volumes visualized. Both, states and position can be changed by using the functionalities of the user interface generated (155) by said apparatus. The apparatus can be used in medical image post-processing system.

Abstract: A method includes displaying a background image on a display screen. The method further includes receiving, from an input device, a signal indicative of a free hand line being drawn over the background image. The signal includes coordinates of points of the free hand line with respect to the display screen. The free hand line is independent of content represented in the background image. The method further includes storing the signal in a storage device. The method further includes generating a smooth stiff line based on the stored signal. The method further includes displaying the smooth stiff line over the background image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for use in the concurrent display of medical images from different imaging modalities. A system and a computer program product for use in relation to the method are also disclosed. In the method, a primary image and a secondary image from a different imaging modality are fused. In the fused image, a first pixel group from the primary image having primary image data values within a first range are mapped to grayscale image values. A second pixel group from the primary image having primary image data values within at least a second range are identified, and the secondary image data values of corresponding pixels in the secondary image are mapped to color image values in the fused image.

Abstract: A contouring module (22, 24) iteratively adjusts contours delineating a radiation target region and risk regions in a planning image. An intensity modulation optimization module (30) generates a radiation therapy plan conforming with dosage or dosage constraints (26) for the radiation target region and the risk regions delineated by the contours. A differential analysis module (40) is configured to invoke the intensity modulation optimization module (30) to estimate partial derivatives of an output of the intensity modulation optimization respective to the contours. The contouring module (22, 24) is configured to invoke the differential analysis module (40) after each iterative contour adjustment to estimate the partial derivatives respective to the contour segments and to render the contour segments on a display of the planning image with the contour segments coded based on the estimated partial derivatives to indicate impact of the contour segments on the intensity modulation optimization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a labeling apparatus (1) for labeling structures of an object shown in an object image. A probability map providing unit (3) provides a probability map, the probability map indicating for different labels, which are indicative of different structures of the object, and for different positions in the probability map the probability that the respective structure, which is indicated by the respective label, is present at the respective position, wherein the probability depends on the position in the probability map. The probability map is mapped to the object image by a mapping unit (4), wherein a label assigning unit (5) assigns to a provided contour, which represents a structure in the object image, a label based on the mapped probability map. This allows automatically labeling structures of the object, which are indicated by provided contours in the object image, with relatively low computational efforts.

Abstract: A system 100 for real-time processing of a pointer movement provided by a pointing device, the system comprising an output 130 for displaying a pointer 162, 164 at a first position p1 in an image 152, 154, 156, the image comprising a contour; a user input 110 for obtaining pointer movement data 112 from a pointing device 140 operable by a user, the pointer movement data being indicative of a pointer movement v of the pointer from the first position to a second position p2 in the image; and a processor 120 for (i) dampening the pointer movement by reducing the pointer movement along a direction orthogonal 172 to the contour, and (ii) establishing a third position p3 of the pointer based on said dampened pointer movement vd.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic contrast enhancement for contouring. The system and method including displaying a volumetric image slice to be analyzed, receiving a delineation of a target anatomic structure in the volumetric image slice, identifying a region of interest based upon an area being delineated in the volumetric image slice, analyzing voxel intensity values in the region of interest and determining an appropriate window-level setting based on the voxel intensity values.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for post processing 2D image slices (110a-c) defining a 3D image volume. The apparatus comprises a graphical user interface controller (160), a 2D segmenter (170) and a 3D segmenter (180). The apparatus allows a user to effect calculation and display of a 2D segmentation of a cross section of an object shown in a slice (110a) and calculation and display of a 3D segmentation of the object across the 3D image volume, the 3D segmentation based on the object's previously calculated 2D segmentation.

Abstract: An apparatus and user interface (155) for aiding in navigating and modifying delineations (117a-c) in or associated with 2D sub-volumes (110a-c) of a 3D or higher dimensional image dataset (100). States and position of the sub-volumes visualized. Both, states and position can be changed by using the functionalities of the user interface generated (155) by said apparatus. The apparatus can be used in medical image post-processing system.

Abstract: A method of data processing is provided for estimating a position of an object in an image from a position of a reference object in a reference image. The method includes learning the position of the reference object in the reference image and its relation to a set of reference landmarks in the reference image, accessing the image, accessing the relation between the position of the reference object and the set of the reference landmarks, identifying a set of landmarks in the image corresponding to the set of the reference landmarks, and applying the relation to the set of landmarks in the image for estimating the position of the object in the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image display apparatus for displaying an image like a three-dimensional medical image of an object. A template providing unit (3) provides a template defining display parameters for displaying the image based on anatomical features of the object, and an anatomical feature detecting unit (4) detects an anatomical feature in the image. A display parameter determining unit (5) determines a display parameter defining, for example, a desired view, based on the detected anatomical feature and the template, and a display unit (8) displays the image by displaying, for example, the desired view, in accordance with the determined display parameter. This allows the image display apparatus to show the image on the display in a desired usual way as defined by the template, even if in the originally provided image the object is shown in an unusual way.

Abstract: The invention relates to automatically adjusting an acquisition protocol for dynamic medical imaging, such as dynamic CT, MRI or PET imaging. The protocols are adjusted based on anatomic and dynamic models (10, 12, 14) which are individualized or fitted to each patient based on a scout scan (6, 8). The adjustment can compensate for changes in the patient due to patient motion (e.g. breathing or heartbeat) or flow of contrast or tracing agent during the sequence. This ensures that changes in the reconstructed images are indicative of pathological changes in the patient and not caused by patient motion or changes in scanning parameters or timing. The dynamic model can be a motion model (12) used to predict the motion of anatomic/physiologic features, typically organs, during scanning, or a haemodynamic model (14) used to predict flow of the contrast agent allowing for precise timing of the scanning sequence.

Abstract: When adapting models of anatomical structures in a patient for diagnosis or therapeutic planning, an atlas (26) of predesigned anatomical structure models or image volumes can be accessed, and a segmentation of one or more such structures can be selected and overlaid on an a 3D image of corresponding structure(s) in a clinical image (52) of a patient. A user can click on an initially unapproved segmentation 5 landmark (72) on the patient image (52), reposition the unapproved landmark, and approve the repositioned landmark. Remaining unapproved landmarks (72) are then repositioned as a function of the position of the approved landmark (92) using one or more interpolation techniques to adapt the model to the patient image on the fly.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a computer program for transferring scan geometry between a first region and a second region, similar to the first region includes identifying the first and second regions in an overview image, followed by determining of the first scan geometry corresponding to the first region. Then, the first scan geometry is transferred into the second scan geometry corresponding to the second region using information on geometrical correspondence between the first and second regions. The transferring includes establishing corresponding mappings between similar regions and their respective scan geometries.

Abstract: A method includes generating a set of group-wise registered images from a time sequence of images based on a region of interest of a subject or object identified in at least one of the images, the image sequence, and a motion model indicative of an estimate of a motion of the subject or object during which the image sequence is acquired.

Abstract: A contouring module (22, 24) iteratively adjusts contours delineating a radiation target region and risk regions in a planning image. An intensity modulation optimization module (30) generates a radiation therapy plan conforming with dosage or dosage constraints (26) for the radiation target region and the risk regions delineated by the contours. A differential analysis module (40) is configured to invoke the intensity modulation optimization module (30) to estimate partial derivatives of an output of the intensity modulation optimization respective to the contours. The contouring module (22, 24) is configured to invoke the differential analysis module (40) after each iterative contour adjustment to estimate the partial derivatives respective to the contour segments and to render the contour segments on a display of the planning image with the contour segments coded based on the estimated partial derivatives to indicate impact of the contour segments on the intensity modulation optimization.

Abstract: A method of acquiring at least one clinical MRI image of a subject comprising the following steps: acquiring a first survey image with a first field of view, the first survey image having a first spatial resolution,—locating a first region of interest and at least one anatomical landmarks in the first survey image, determining the position and the orientation of the first region of interest using the anatomical landmarks, the position and the orientation of the first region being used for—planning a second survey image,—acquiring the second survey image with a second field of view, the second survey image having a second spatial resolution, the second spatial resolution being higher than the first spatial resolution, generating a geometry planning for the anatomical region of interest using the second survey image,—acquiring a diagnostic image of the anatomical region of interest using the geometry planning.